49 Further Thought – Super Organisms and Inherited Resistance to Chemicals
Kara Stanley
The Making of “Super” Organisms
In our battle against unwanted organisms, we rely on chemicals like herbicides, insecticides, and antibiotics. But just like us, these tiny foes can evolve! Chemical resistance is the ability of weeds, pests, and microbes to survive exposure to chemicals that would normally kill them. This happens when a small number in the population have natural variations that allow them to tolerate the chemical. When these resistant individuals survive and reproduce, their offspring inherit this resistance, making the entire population harder to control.
The overuse of the same chemicals creates a “survival of the fittest” scenario, favoring resistant individuals. This is a serious problem for agriculture and public health, as it limits our options for controlling pests and diseases.
- Michigan State University – Superweeds
- EPA –Slowing and Combating Pest Resistance to Pesticides
- WHO – Antimicrobial Resistance